TSMC, UMC undamaged by quakes, according to report

SAN FRANCISCO  The world's two largest semiconductor foundriesTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) reported no damage from a pair of major earthquakes that struck southern Taiwan Tuesday (Dec. 26), according to a report from the Australian Associated Press (AAP) news agency.

Citing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the report said a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck at 8:26 p.m. Taiwan time (4:26 p.m. Christmas Day in New York) and that a 7.0-magnitude earthquake followed eight minutes later. Both quakes originated 10 kilometers below the ocean floor, according to the report, citing the USGS.

The quakes triggered fears of possible tsunami two years after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, according to the AAP report.